Toxicity effects of short term diesel exhaust particles exposure to human small airway epithelial cells (SAECs) and human lung carcinoma epithelial cells (A549)

Toxicol Lett. 2012 Dec 17;215(3):181-92. doi: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2012.10.016. Epub 2012 Nov 2.

Abstract

In this study, confocal Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscope (AFM) and multiplex ELISA were applied to analyze the biophysical responses (biomechanics and biospectroscopy) of normal human primary small airway epithelial cells (SAECs) and human lung carcinoma epithelial A549 cells to in vitro short term DEP exposure (up to 2h). Raman spectra revealed the specific cellular biomolecular changes in cells induced by DEP compared to unexposed control cells. Principal component analysis was successfully applied to analyze spectral differences between control and treated groups from multiple individual cells, and indicated that cell nuclei are more sensitive than other cell locations. AFM measurements indicated that 2h of DEP exposure induced a significant decrease in cell elasticity and a dramatic change in membrane surface adhesion force. Cytokine and chemokine production measured by multiplex ELISA demonstrated DEP-induced inflammatory responses in both cell types.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Carcinoma*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cytokines / analysis
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Epithelial Cells / drug effects*
  • Epithelial Cells / ultrastructure
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms*
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Principal Component Analysis
  • Respiratory Mucosa / cytology*
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman
  • Time Factors
  • Vehicle Emissions / toxicity*

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Vehicle Emissions